Did you Know? The Leaning Tower of Pisa is... 'Straightening Up!'

Story About Pisa

Will it soon be named the Perfectly Ordinary Tower of Pisa? Will the Tuscan city whose claim to fame is an off-kilter tower fall into obscurity without tourists keen to snap photos of themselves pretending to prop up the Tower of Pisa? Those are the questions we’re asking ourselves with the news that the so-called Leaning Tower of Pisa is creeping upright.The cause for the notorious tilt in what may be the world’s most famous architectural fail was a mystery for hundreds of years. Building on the now-famous bell tower began in the late 1100’s, and the 186-foot structure began to sink on one side even while under construction.With the benefit of modern science and technology, experts now say it... more

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Pretty in Pink: Where to Meet the National Bird of the Bahamas

Story About The Bahamas

The Caribbean flamingo is an iconic symbol of the tropics, with its vivid pink plumage standing out against a backdrop of turquoise waters, green palm leaves, and pastel-colored buildings. In the Bahamas, where it’s the national bird, flamingos have made a strong comeback thanks to conservation projects. The Islands of The Bahamas may be one of the best places in the world to get up close to this iconic, almost cartoon-like wading bird.Fun facts: the same carotenoids that make carrots orange and ripe tomatoes red also make flamingos pink. They are also found in the microscopic algae that brine shrimp eat (which is why shrimp turn pink when you cook them) and as flamingos eat the algae and brine shrimp,... more

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Tropical, Travel-Inspired Cocktails to Ring in Your New Year

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Mulled wine, snowballs, and spiked eggnog may headline the list of festive favorites for many cocktail drinkers, but why not switch it up and greet the New Year by projecting your tropical travel resolutions? Here are our picks of some sunny, island-inspired sips to take you into next year – and hold you over until your next sun-kissed vacation.  Cheers!The Bahamas: Goombay SmashThe Goombay Smash is a rum-based cocktail with a historic pedigree in The Bahamas. While the original recipe may remain a secret, versions of the drink have spread to all of The Bahamas' major islands, impressing locals and visitors alike with its strong fruity flavor.(Photo courtesy of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation)Recipe for a shareable... more

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Made You Look: The Quirkiest, Most Creative Tourism Marketing Campaigns of 2022

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Now that we’re traveling again, destinations around the world have been wooing visitors back – with promotional videos from the weird to the wild to the wonderful that have been vying for the attention of international travelers like us. In 2022, did any of these campaigns make you look - or want to book?  Iceland Wants to “Out-Horse Your Email” In a clever play on the word ‘outsource’, in its not only quirky, but incredibly cute video, Iceland promises to 'out-horse your email' to Icelandic ponies that have been trained to write your out of office reply while you’re on vacation in Iceland so you never get distracted from your exploration of the country. (Image, top, via youtube.) CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE... more

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The Top 5 List of the World's Most Expensive Shopping Streets Just Got a Shakeup

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Travel and treating yourself to luxury shopping go hand in hand for many, so this year’s list of the world’s most expensive shopping streets may help you plan a retail therapy trip or holiday shopping spree for those loved ones who like to see presents under the tree with labels that take their breath away.Sometimes, it’s even fun just to walk around famously extravagant shopping districts on vacation and people-watch to see how the ‘other half’ – or rather, that other 1% - lives. If any of those travel activities appeal to you, a new report might give you some ideas for your next urban vacation. It compares how rents in the world’s top luxury shopping streets stack up now –... more

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Why More and More People are Giving the Gift of Travel this Season

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‘Tis the season for good cheer, family togetherness and dreams coming true… and for us, that all adds up to travel. More than ever before, this may the year to give the gift of travel - to yourself or to your family. More and more people are trading in exhausting entertaining for holiday trips where you’re not the one doing all the work – instead, you’re being pampered and living your best life as you celebrate the season.Others are pulling the plug on lengthy, stressful shopping wish lists, and going all-in giving loved ones a special trip in the coming year.They’re giving themselves or their loved ones a thoughtful, heart-felt, and memorable gift they’ll cherish and remember forever. Here are some more reasons... more

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The World's Top Luxury Train Journey is Closer to Home Than You Think

Story About North America

The phrase ‘World’s Leading Luxury Train’ evokes images of glass-domed rail cars revealing breathtaking vistas, gliding through otherwise-inaccessible landscapes that awe pampered travelers within. It’s the romance of travel at its best – and it’s much easier to achieve than you may realize. That’s because a passenger train company rather close to home has been awarded the title of ‘World’s Leading Luxury Train’ at the latest World Travel Awards. Of all the epic train journeys in all the most incredibly scenic places in the world… Rocky Mountaineer has rolled away with the title.Based in Western Canada, Rocky Mountaineer is the largest, privately-owned upscale tourist train company in the world. It offers luxury rail journeys that showcase some of the most... more

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Travel Black Friday Deals are Back!

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Travel is back! And after a couple of quiet years, so, at last, are Black Friday travel deals. If you have any thoughts of traveling in the next year or so, now’s the time to get some of the best prices on dream vacations. We’ve selected some of our favorite Black Friday travel deals to show you here, but we have plenty more on offer. And they represent some of the best pricing, perks, upgrades, terms, and bonuses you’ll find for travel this winter, into 2023 and even 2024.Whether you fancy a family beach resort vacation or romantic island getaway this winter… a European odyssey… a bucket list trip to the Galapagos, an African safari, or South Seas overwater dream escape…... more

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Celebrity Beyond's "GOAT" Godmother Christens Ship; Sets it Sailing in its Inaugural Caribbean Season

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Trail-blazing women is a theme of Celebrity Cruises in general, and it was a triple play at the christening of the Celebrity Beyond. The newest of Celebrity's Edge-class ships was christened by Simone Biles, nicknamed the 'G.O.A.T.,' or 'Greatest of all Time' U.S. gymnasts, in Port Everglades, Florida on November 5th. Biles is a 19-time World Champion, seven-time Olympic Medalist and most decorated American gymnast in history. In addition to the renowned godmother, the naming ceremony was also attended by Celebrity Cruises' Captain Kate McCue, who remains the first and still only American woman to be named captain of a large cruise ship.“It is an honor to be selected as Beyond’s Godmother and to join such a distinguished group of... more

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3 Unique Ways to Get Active Outdoors in French St. Martin

Story About St Martin

The twin-nation island of St. Martin is one of the Caribbean's most popular destinations. It's the smallest place in the world divided between two countries: the south end is Dutch and the north end is French. Famous for its beaches, shopping and gastronomy, there's much more to St. Martin. Whether you're in St. Martin on a cruise ship port of call or an extended stay at a hotel or resort, we recommend you explore the wild side of French St. Martin. Here are three very different ways to enjoy its outdoors:Fort LouisGood for: sightseers, novice hikers, history buffsOne of French St. Martin's most noticeable remains of its colonial history, Fort Louis is part of a coastal string of historic naval... more

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Be Among the First to Try These 4 New Luxury Resorts on Your Next Mexico Beach Vacation

Story About Mexico

Mexico has some of the best beach destinations on the continent, and four new - or completely renewed - luxury resorts may inspire you to treat yourself to being one of the first guests to experience their unique ultra-luxe lifestyle – served up with Mexican hospitality.  Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya  By spring, 2023, this storied hideaway in the heart of the Riviera Maya will re-open, completely re-imagined. Nestled between 200 acres of lush tropical jungle and the secluded white sands of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, the legendary property’s renovations focus on Mayan culture, design and nature influences, with 10 new waterfront suites, a nature-focused wellness experience in partnership with Guerlain, ground-breaking sustainability initiatives and a new gastronomic era under Mexican-born Executive... more

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25th Anniversary of the 'Star-chitecture' that Put this Spanish Port on the Map

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Coinciding with news that Spain has joined the rest of the EU in removing all pandemic entry restrictions for overseas travelers – is the 25th anniversary of a Spanish landmark that transformed modern travel. Before celebrity architect Frank Gehry, not many travelers could put their finger on Bilbao, Spain on a map. Despite being the largest city in northern Spain and its Basque country, and on the estuary into the Atlantic Ocean’s Bay of Biscay with a coastal beach culture all its own, Bilbao didn’t have the pull of Spain’s magnetic Mediterranean.But on October 18th, 1997, Frank Gehry changed all that, with the opening of his boldly-designed, ultra-modern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.Built on derelict docklands on the riverbank at the edge of the... more

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Belmond Debuting New 'Barge' for Luxury Micro-Cruises in Champagne, France

Story About La Champagne

This may be the smallest type of cruise possible. Luxury travel company Belmond is building another mini-river cruise ship. This one will sail just 6 guests through the legendary Champagne region of France.  Part of its French collection, Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, Champagne, launches in spring of 2023. It joins a fleet of so-called ‘barges’ in France called Les Bateaux Belmond. The fleet includes intimate vessels sailing in France’s Du Midi, the Camargue, Provence, two in Burgundy, and one in Lilas.They call them 'barges,' but that word may evoke images of hauling cargo along canals and rivers. Your actual experience on the 'bateaux' couldn't be farther from that image.Belmond is the company behind the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice, the... more

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This Airline's Unique Anniversary Collectible Celebrates Aruba's Centenary of Flight Service

Story About Aruba

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is marking the 103rd anniversary of its founding on October 7 with the creation and presentation of a new Delftware miniature house that is a tiny replica of a Dutch building in one of the destinations where it flies. This charming tradition provides a new addition to the dozens of miniatures that have become niche collectibles for fans of air travel and the famous Dutch porcelain.  Haven’t heard of this? Don’t take my word for it – do an online search and you’ll see what a phenomenon KLM’s Delftware miniature houses are for collectors around the world. Since the 1950s, KLM has been presenting Delftware miniature houses filled with Bols Dutch genever (the centuries-old Dutch forerunner of English gin) to its... more

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There's More to Peru than Machu Picchu

Story About Peru

Peru's overwhelming claim to fame is the mystique and majesty of the ancient remains at Machu Picchu - deservedly named recently the 'South America's Leading Tourist Attraction.” But there's more to Peru than its fabled history, leading it to also earn the designation as 'South America's Leading Culinary Destination 2022' and 'Leading Cultural Destination 2022' in the region. Here are some of the reasons why:Annual Día de la Canción Criolla Celebrates Music and Dance on October 31Move over, Hallowe'en. There's a different, time-honored tradition on the last day of October in Peru. Día de la Canción Criolla (‘The Day of Creole Song’) is a performance event hosted by the Ministry of Culture every year on October 31.  The event is hosted... more

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